Aston Martin now chasing 19-podium F1 driver ‘hard’ as Max Verstappen alternative for the 2026 season

Aston Martin have two drivers signed up for the 2026 Formula 1 season but that’s not stopping them from potentially considering their options ahead of next year.

Next season is going to be vitally important for Aston Martin, with years of work building up towards Formula 1’s new regulations.

Adrian Newey tops the list of incomings at Aston Martin in recent seasons, but the impact of new team principal Andy Cowell and the soon-to-be-arriving Enrico Cardile can’t be underestimated either.

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are currently the two drivers being entrusted with leading Aston Martin into this new era.

Alonso has been impressed with Newey behind the scenes and finally scored his first points of 2025 at his home race at the Spanish Grand Prix.

However, his Canadian teammate was absent from the grid after withdrawing due to a recurrence of a wrist injury, and Stroll’s Aston Martin future has now been questioned.

Max Verstappen has been linked with Aston Martin for some time but whether or not that move is realistic is yet to be seen.

The team may now have turned to one of his biggest rivals who is out of contract at the end of the year; Mercedes star George Russell.

READ MORE: All to know about Aston Martin F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Aston Martin chasing George Russell ‘hard’ ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season

A report from The Times shared more details on the Formula 1 driver’s market.

They believe that if Mercedes act on their interest in Verstappen then Russell is the ‘most likely’ driver to lose his seat.

Russell’s contract expires at the end of the 2025 season currently but Mercedes have yet to act on that impending deadline.

The report goes on to say that ‘Aston Martin are understood to be one of those who have expressed interest’ in Russell in case he fails to do enough to convince team principal Toto Wolff that he’s the man to lead the Silver Arrows into the next era of F1.

Russell, who has 19 podiums and three victories to his name in 137 race starts, has been one of the stars of 2025.

The British driver has secured four podium finishes already in 2025 despite Mercedes regularly having the third or fourth-fastest car.

He’s stepped up in the absence of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton which might explain why Aston Martin are keen to try and nab him off Mercedes before they tie him down to another deal.

Aston Martin have shown how much cash they were willing to offer Verstappen and the 27-year-old might be tempted to see what offer comes his way if Mercedes continue to stall on a new agreement.

READ MORE: Mercedes driver George Russell’s life outside F1 from net worth to height

David Croft shares what he’s heard about George Russell’s F1 future

Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft was a guest on The F1 Show and was speaking about Verstappen’s future at Red Bull and said: “Christian Horner is saying that the stories that Max has this escape clause that gets triggered by Austria is complete and utter nonsense.

“Yeah, that’s not my words. That’s Christian Horner’s words.

“So, take of that what you will, we can only go by what we’re told on this one.

“Aston Martin are actually chasing, I’m told, hard for George Russell and would quite like his services for the future. So Red Bull might not be the only option there for George.”

It would be interesting to know how Russell feels about being Aston Martin’s number two option to one of his biggest rivals, especially after their clash at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Valtteri Bottas has suggested that Russell will be staying at Mercedes next season but wouldn’t go as far as to confirm it.

He knows better than most people that the driver’s market can change faster than many realise.